![[Lesson Plans Banner]](/US/en/digital/edu/images/bannerLessonPlans.gif)
A View from Our Window
Marian Duffy Brovero
Crescent School, Waldwick, New Jersey
Subject: Science
Grade: 2
"Not all windows frame so contented a natural scene as ours.
But they all are dream holes into which a child of any age may
drift."
Purpose and Description of Project
Marian Brovero found the camera to be the key to helping her second-graders
become more sharp-eyed observers of their natural surroundings-including
weather, birds, plants, animals, and insects-and to making them
more appreciative of this natural world. She also incorporated
these ecological studies into a whole range of academic areas.
While Brovero started the youngsters out in their observations
by focusing on what could be seen from their classroom window,
the children were soon taking pictures much farther afield-around
the school, at home, and on field trips. They also recorded their
observations and activities in individual journals, were involved
in such classroom activities as sketching from photos and making
graphs of outdoor temperature changes, and, finally, produced
a "View from Our Window" album, a copy of which was
donated to the school library and displayed for others' viewing.
The youngsters also had enough photos left over to make Mother's
Day albums.
Brovero says that the students became enthusiastic photographers,
became remarkably adept at noticing details and spotting camouflaged
creatures, and showed significant increases in attention span.
Activities
The teacher grouped the project activities under five main headings.
The children took photographs throughout to document their sightings
and numerous activities. Examples:
- Science-observed weather, compared temperatures, learned
camera
operation and how
film
works, and observed birds.
- Math-made graphs of temperatures and of the locations, times,
and activities of birds during sightings; compared prices of film,
developing, bird seed, etc.; compared weights on labels of seed
and soil; made puzzles out of pictures.
- Language-read books on birds and researched J.J. Audubon;
recorded all activities in journals; wrote nature poetry; alphabetized
"bird words"; and invented bumper sticker slogans relating
to nature.
- Art-made a bird banner of felt; sketched and labeled bird
parts; made a mobile of nature photos; used colored markers to
properly fill in bird outlines; and sketched from photos, using
a magnifying glass to point up details.
- Social Studies-read migratory maps and made their own map
of the wildlife center they visited; photographed and discussed
their favorite places at home; compared their own work habits
to the activities of birds; and shared their activities and materials
with other second-graders.
Materials, Resources, and Expenses
Human resources included a parent who gave the class a demonstration
of watercolor painting; the music teacher who prepared songs on
nature and animals; the art teacher who assisted the children
in making their bird banner; and the librarian who helped with
bird identifications and put the children's album and banner on
display in the library.
Outcomes and Adaptability
Brovero believes that the most important outcome of her project
was that her children became more enthusiastic about learning,
remarking that "enthusiasm may have a nebulous rating on
a national scale but with the young (and perhaps all students),
it's the whole ballgame." And she hopes that the most lasting
result will be "a concerned love of nature."
The teachers thinks that the project would be suitable for any
students.